'Lost': Exclusive interview with Sterling Beaumon, Part 2
OK, here we are with Part Two of our exclusive interview with Young Benjamin Linus himself, Sterling Beaumon. If you missed the first part, be sure to check it out. In today's installment, Sterling shares some pretty provocative thoughts on the futures of Ben Linus and the Island. They tie in nicely with the discussions "Lost" fans have been conducting here on the blog over the past week.
For spoiler-phobes: no specific plot points are revealed below. While he offers up some pretty interesting morsels, you won't scream and tell and curse the heavens (or more importantly, me) for having read his responses. Personally, I had a blast talking with him, and I think you'll enjoy this latter half of the interview. Today's topics: the repercussions of Sayid's shot heard round the "Lost" world, the most important woman on Ben's life, and the things "Lost" fans must do while in Hawaii.
Zap2it: Let's get to the last episode that aired, "He's Our You." What were your first thoughts upon reading about Sayid shooting Ben in the script?
Sterling Beaumon: My first reaction was, "What the heck? Why did Sayid tell Ben he was a killer?" Because being a big fan, I had only read the parts I had to read, so I hadn't seen the other parts. So that was the first shock to me. And then I read down and the next stage direction was, "Bang! Sayid shoots Ben. OMG! Cliffhanger! Flash to black." That's what it says. So I said, "Oh my gosh. OMG for real. They can't do that!"
Zap2it: Was that ending kept hidden from most of the cast/crew?
SB: Anybody who got the script knew about it, but I think that was one of the most protected secrets out of anything that happened. Because you know, when there's something big like that in the cliffhanger, some people said that should have been the end of the season cliffhanger. I don't know what they have planned for the end of the season, but if THAT isn't the end of the season cliffhanger, I think what they have planned for the end is going to be big.
Zap2it: This actually leads into another reader question: have you had a response from many people who were shocked to see a kid shot on TV? Has anyone told you they had a problem with it?
SB: [laughs] Me being a fan, I read, and even sometimes comment, on message boards about theories. I never do Ben theories, because I just don't want to get into that. But I read them, and I think some people get super creepy about this. I don't think it's a major problem. They have this thing when people get shot sometimes where they squib them, and shoot blood out, but they didn't do that to me. So they told me the only reason they were doing it [this way] was it made where he got shot a "nice, clean death." It wouldn't be super bloody or gory. It's just a nice shot. Boom. Dead.
Zap2it: OK, since you're into Ben theories, even if you don't post them, here's a question I posed to my readers that I'd like you to answer: Who is the most influential woman in Ben's life: his mother, Juliet, Annie, Alex? And why?
SB: Personally, I think it should be Annie. But for what we know right now...ah! I seriously don't know.
Zap2it: But your gut's telling you it's Annie? That's what feels right?
SB: Know what? I could probably tell you more after the next episode airs.
Zap2it: OK, so: Assuming this was not the last time we see you on the show, is there anything on the horizon as shocking as Sayid shooting him looming ahead?
SB: Um, I can't say that right now, because the big question is whether I'm dead or alive. So, if there's something more, then I'm alive. But like I said: that shot is a nice, clean death.
Zap2it: Well, OK then!
SB: And remember: they are back in time. Remember when [Sawyer, Juliet, Miles, and Daniel] first enter encounter the Dharma people, Miles says to Daniel, "We don't get involved, right?" And Daniel says, "It doesn't matter, we're stuck in this time. We can do whatever we want. Whatever happened, happened." So you can change time now. Whatever happened in the future will now be changed and will no longer exist.
Zap2it: So you're saying you think there's an alternate timeline that's been created after what we just saw?
SB: I think that everything we're seeing right now is on a different timeline and is something that COULD have happened. Who knows? Maybe Ben being shot will bring down the whole Dharma Initiative. [The writers] can do whatever they want!
Zap2it: They certainly can. With that, let's move a bit past "Lost." A few of the Zap2it readers were wondering if you have any other roles on film, TV or stage in the near future?
SB: Yes, actually, in the near future, if you're in the Los Angeles area, I'll be in "Big: The Musical" at the El Centro Theatre. It's a really fun play, based on the movie, and I play Josh's best friend.
Zap2it: I also read on IMDB that you'll be doing voice work in the upcoming "Astro Boy"?
SB: Yea, which is funny, because I'm wearing my Astro Boy shirt right now! Once again, I'm playing a best friend [Sludge]. Unfortunately, I can't tell you a lot about the character and what he does...because they've never given me a full script. They've only given me my part.
Zap2it: I am sure you get asked this a lot, but talk about the difference in creating a character in a studio, behind a microphone, and physically performing in front of a camera.
SB: It's a lot harder, because you don't have any other actors in the booth with you. The best case scenario, you're the last one to record that scene, and you hear everyone else's lines the way the said it to play off of. But if you're the first one to record, you have to say it every possible way, not knowing how they are going to [respond].
Zap2it: OK, reach for the stars: any dream roles or projects you'd like to undertake?
SB: Oh, I don't know...I'd like to do a James Bond kind of thing. That action-adventure sort of thing. That would be ideal in the future.
Zap2it: So, Double O Sterling?
SB: Double O Sterling, yea! [laughs]
Zap2it: OK, one last question, getting back to "Lost" for a second. A lot of my readers, and myself included, plan on doing a "Lost" tour someday before they die. I'm sure they keep you busy while on location, but can you recommend anything we should do besides the tour while there?
SB: You guys have to climb to the top of Diamond Head. It's actually a really good work out, too. And you can look out at the whole island of Oahu from there. And personally, what I love to do is go to the North Shore and watch the waves. But you have to surf while there, even if it's on the tiny little waves. [Ed. Note: Yes, little waves for me, thank you very much.]
For the "Lost" tour, there's two things you have to see. First of all, Dharmaville, which is actually a YMCA camp painted yellow. And then...right between the sound stages, there's always some new thing. They had the Dharma security station there, and then they changed it to...something which I'm not going to tell you just yet. And you should also go out into the jungle where they film. Because they have five places in which they film EVERY jungle scene. They add a plant here, add a plant there, change the camera angle, and no one will ever know!
Zap2it: Well, that's awesome. Sterling, thank you so much for your time and insight!
SB: You're welcome. Thank you so much!
Ryan also posts every 108 minutes over at Boob Tube Dude. He invites you to join the hundreds already in Zap2It's Guide to Lost Facebook group. He also encourages you to subscribe to the Zap2It's Guide to Lost Twitter feed
Dark UFO posted a radio interview Sterling did today, where he repeated his answer about Daniel saying they could change time- but he really didn't say that in "LaFleur" and we all know Daniel has never believed time can change.
Either Sterling misinterpreted Daniel's statement, forgot the context, or he's trying to lead us into Ben-like misdirection about the state of the timeline.
I think I understand how Sterling can do such a good job playing someone who grows up to be an evil genius. Based on what he chose to tell us, it sounds like he's almost as devious as Ben himself!
Someone please sell me a flux capacitor so I can go about two or three years into the future and buy the complete series LOST box set...
The picture above finally smacked me in the head about who young Mr. Beaumon reminds me of...my best friend in fifth and sixth grade named Robert Baker. Almost a dead ringer, except Robert's hair was jet black. Now there was a happy childhood memory, thanks guys!
I think that's one of the greatest roles an actor can get to play: playing the villain long before he turns evil and becomes the "Big Bad." I guess it also works for heroes too, like how in Casino Royale we got to see Bond's first mission(s) as 007.
But it's tricky, because you don't want to destroy the legacy of the character by giving a bad performance in their formative years (I'm looking at you, Hayden Christensen!) The balance is showing the character as-is, free from corruption or whatever influences come down the line later, while still showing the "seeds" of evil were there all along.
In the case of young Ben, we get to see he's just a sweet kid with a crush on the girl next door, but at the same time he's the kind of person that would sacrifice a bunny, plot to murder his father, and risk the lives of innocent people via flaming bus just to cause a distraction.
"RISK THE LIVES OF INNOCENT PEOPLE VIA A FLAMING BUS"
Of course, I'm sure Ben (and Sayid) would argue that the DI residents weren't innocent since they (or their "representatives" in the DI "government") had just voted to kill Sayid.
That said, every day this episode seems weaker and weaker -- for instance, why didn't Sayid just agree with Sawyer's plan and "join" Dharma like he saw Jin, Sawyer, Jack, Hurley, and Kate had?
After all, there is no reason he couldn't then work on a better long-term plan -- one which would be far more likely to succeed once he had learned "the lay of the land" so to speak than him trying to figure out something on the fly under tremendous time pressure.
Remember how patient Sayid was (to wait for the right moment to act) when he discovered that Michael had been "compromised"?
It's like this episode was written by people who only had a cursory knowledge of the LOST story and characters.
There was no reason Sayid had to refuse Sawyer's offer -- unless, as I posted a couple of days ago -- he was working with Richard. I hope this turns out to be the case, but I'm "concerned" that it isn't, that Sayid's refusal was just another cheap writer contrivance in the spirit of the "Eggtown" murder trial.
"concerned", You have to keep in mind that the Sayid of the Michael incident and this Sayid are worlds apart (literally). This Sayid has been pushed to the brink, he has had his life stolen from him by Ben and then left on the side of the road when Ben was done with no more than a "thanks for the help, see ya!" And now he finds himself back on the island where more of his life is being stolen. Finally he finds (in his mind) the reason for it all ... pay back. This Sayid is not thinking of anything but himself. We cannot rationally think what he should have done because he was not being rational. And while that doesn't fit the Sayid we knew on-island, it does fit this one and people can change, sometimes drastically. Personally I thought the same as you did until I stepped outside and looked at what all he had been given over the years after he got off the island and realized that for him, there was no time to stew on a plan. He felt he had found his destiny and that was all he was thinking of. It makes perfect sense and I think the writers did an excellent job in showing a changed Sayid, which should have happened after all he'd been through with Ben off-island. To have had him remain the same, that would have been poor writing.
Excellent Part II!! I really like the questions you chose and Sterling's answers. He sounds like a very bright young man and I live in LA and will try to see him on stage.
On you poll I voted a member of the cast. I'd love it if you could interview Ian. :D I can't promise but I could ask him if you'd like me to.
Jane - excellent point. Sometimes we forget that these characters have had 3 years of experiences that, for us, was compressed into a few episodes. In Sayid's situation we never 'felt' the pain he went through from finding, marrying, and losing the love of his life. In his dispair he sold his soul to Ben Linus, and even that got thrown back in his face. It had to make him a different person than the one we knew from the beginning. He's beaten down and has a much more fatalistic view of life.
Ryan - loved the interview with Sterling. Good job!!
New footage from Whatever Happened, Happened. Yum, Kate pantless again!
http://tinyurl.com/2g9mqh
I like what everyone's saying about Sayid being pushed to the brink. If he were thinking rationally in the first place, he wouldn't have shot an innocent, abused 12-year-old kid in cold blood. Someone who does that has to be either desperately wicked, or just desperate. And Sayid isn't really a bad sort, most of the time; ergo, he must merely be desperate.
Someone who was thinking rationally might have realized that they had an opportunity, say, to befriend and mentor Ben rather than kill him, and thus prevent him from growing up bad. For all I know, maybe it turns out that Juliet / Sawyer / Hurley / Jin were doing exactly that over the last three years. I can definitely see Juliet doing that --- it would explain why Ben has a crush on her in the future.